Tuesday, 27 September 2011

When I first saw the projects in the book "Weekend Sewing" by Heather Ross, I knew I wanted to make the weekend travel bag because I really like the look of it and I wanted to know how to make a bag that is constructed in this particular way. So at the weekend before our holiday to the Alps I quickly made one. I didn't really take long and I think I have learned some new things from it. I chose grey polka dot oilcloth for the lining because I often was unlucky to have a leaking shower gel bottle. For the outside I used one of the fat quarters from Volksfaden that I won earlier this year. I have to say that I am very happy with my bag and the two weeks test during the holidays showed that is is the perfect size, everything I need fits in there. There are a few things I would perhaps change the next time. I would propably leave the edges of the parts raw and then finish them with a bias binding. And perhaps I would add some pieces at the end of the zipper to have something to hold on when unzipping it. Other than that it is a great project and would make a lovely gift since there are endless possibilities of embellishing it.

Wednesday, 7 September 2011

It is actually finished since a few weeks but I didn't get round posting about it because I was on a phantastic holiday and busy climbing, hiking and cycling in the Alps and dreaming about dirndls, but that is another story.

The quilt measures about 152 x 178 cm (60 x 70 in). It is made of 418 squares, some of them are fabrics from old pyjamas and I really hesitated to cut into my favourite, but hopelessly worn down pyjama but now I am glad because it "lives on" in this quilt. Most of the new fabrics are from this shop.

The quilting part was what I feared most, but turned out to be great fun. I only have a 23 years old sewing machine and walking foots are not available. I used Odif 505 temporary fabric glue to prepare the quilt sandwich and it worked like a dream, no shifting of the layers.

I am really happy with how it turned out and the colours make me smile and think of lovely summer days even autumn is almost on our doorstep now.